Issara@ 42 is one of three new projects to be launched by Charn Issara Development in the final quarter of the year, managing director Songkran Issara said at the weekend.

The 69-unit luxury condominium is being constructed off Bangkok's Sukhumvit 42, or Soi Kluay Nam Thai, which is accessible through Rama IV Road and Sukhumvit 40.

The building will have eight floors, each with a ceiling height of about 2.6 metres. The value of the one-rai project is about Bt500 million.

"Most of the units will be two-bedroom apartments covering a built-up area of 78 square metres," said Songkran, a veteran builder with three decades of experience on the real-estate front.

"There are also three-bedroom apartments available, but no studio or one-bedroom types," he said.

The starting price of Bt5.3 million includes air-conditioning units, a pantry and some built-in items.

"Our prices from about Bt67,000 a square metre offers value for money," he said. Issara @ 42 is expected to take 18 months to construct after piling work has been finished. The project is scheduled for completion in the latter part of 2008.

Songkran said the decision to go for larger units and to do away with studios is "to ensure the residential mix is not too varied".

"The estate is mainly for families," he said. "There are other projects nearby that are more suitable for singles."

Although Sukhumvit's chronic traffic congestion extends here, it is far from the worst zones today, which are towards the Phra Kanong-Onnuj (Sukhumvit 71-77) intersection, and running across Sukhumvit 62 to Udomsuk (Sukhumvit 103).

This bad stretch is where the heavy trucks, coupled with heavy road construction, have made local residences a constant nightmare for commuters during rush-hour periods.

Traffic police in these zones are also unable to cope, worsening the commuting crisis in the densely populated suburbs here.

While midtown Sukhumvit 42 section is also crowded, it is relatively free of the environmental degradation affecting the outer Sukhumvit-Bang Na areas since Suvarnabhumi Airport opened.

There are two BTS stations within walking distance: one at Ekamai and the other along the busy Rama IV-Sukhumvit junction.

The maintenance fee for the project is set at Bt45 a square metre, while the sinking fund is Bt600 a square metre. These charges are at the higher end of the spectrum, but they are justified as adequate funding is needed to keep the estate in good condition.

As there are only 69 residences, buyers need to chip in a bit more to ensure enough money is collected to pay for facilities and upkeep of the swimming pool, gym, lobby and security.

Car parking is available in the basement and ground floors.

Charn Issara Development is currently embarking on two other residential projects.

The first will be a luxury resort condominium in Cha Am, with 175 freehold apartments. The site has a 65-metre seafront.

The other is a 39-storey residential project on Bangkok's Lat Phrao, 12 with about 500 freehold apartments. Its 4-rai plot was recently purchased, said a company source.

Project type: Residential condominium

Developer: Charn Issara Development

Location: Sukhumvit Soi 42

Number of units: 69

Price of units: From Bt5.3 million

Size of units: From 78 square wah

Total land area: 1 rai

Facilities: Swimming pool, fitness room

Monthly maintenance fees: Bt45 a square metre

Sinking fund: Bt600 a square metre

Contact number:

(02) 308 2020

Fax: (02) 308 2990

Itthi C Tan

The Nation